Libraries, Culture and Leisure
Reopening cultural and leisure facilities in Sutton
As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) restrictions lift, we are planning to re-open those services which were temporarily suspended or modified, with the safety of our staff and the public as our top priority at all times.
We know that our libraries, heritage houses, leisure centres, outdoor gyms and children’s playgrounds offer important opportunities for relaxing, learning, studying, exercising and spending time in our excellent parks. We thank you for your patience and cooperation during this lockdown period, when we have had to make changes to our lifestyles in order to control the spread of COVID-19.
As these venues and facilities reopen, there will be changes made to the opening hours, set up and service in order to keep everybody safe. Please follow the guidance set out on our webpages and follow the instructions of staff at all times.
Libraries
Opening hours
From Monday 27 July, all libraries are open. Opening hours are below:
Sutton Central Library, St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1EA
Mon: 10am - 4pm
Tue: 10am - 4pm
Wed: 10am - 4pm
Thu: 1pm - 7pm
Fri: 10am - 4pm
Sat: 10am - 2pm
Sun: Closed
Cheam Library, Church Road, Cheam, SM3 8QH
Mon: Closed
Tue: Closed
Wed: 10am-4pm
Thu: Closed
Fri: 10am-4pm
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
Circle Library, Green Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, SM5 1JJ
Mon: Closed
Tue: Closed
Wed: 10am - 4pm
Thu: Closed
Fri: 10am - 4pm
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
Library @ Sutton Life Centre, Alcorn Close, Sutton, SM3 9PX
Mon: Closed
Tue: 10am-4pm
Wed: Closed
Thu: 10am-4pm
Fri: Closed
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
Library @ Phoenix Centre, Mollison Drive, Roundshaw, Wallington, SM6 9NZ
Mon: Closed
Tue: 10am-4pm
Wed: Closed
Thu: 10am-4pm
Fri: Closed
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
Wallington Library, Shotfield, Wallington, SM6 0HY
Mon: Closed
Tue: 10am - 4pm
Wed: 10am - 4pm
Thu: 1pm - 7pm
Fri: 10am - 4pm
Sat: 10am - 2pm
Sun: Closed
Worcester Park Library, Stone Place, Windsor Road, Worcester Park, KT4 8ES
Mon: Closed
Tue: 10am - 4pm
Wed: 10am - 4pm
Thu: 1pm - 7pm
Fri: 10am - 4pm
Sat: 10am - 2pm
Sun: Closed
Westcroft Library, Westcroft Leisure Centre, Westcroft Road, Carshalton, SM5 2TG
Mon: 10am-4pm
Tue: 10am-4pm
Wed: 10am-4pm
Thu: 1pm-7pm
Fri: 10am-4pm
Sat: 10am-2pm
Sun: Closed
Changes in the library buildings
Observing social distancing and reducing contact with physical surfaces is essential in protecting our residents, our community and maintaining public health. As such, the libraries are operating under the following conditions:
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A one-way queue system is in operation with 2m social distancing
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Access to public library spaces is limited.
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Following government guidelines, customers visiting our libraries are strongly encouraged and advised to wear face coverings and use the hand sanitiser provided.
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The cafes at Sutton Central Library and Sutton Life Centre are currently unavailable but cafes in Wallington Library, Honeywood Museum and Whitehall Heritage Houses are open.
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Public toilets are available on request.
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Physical newspapers and magazines are no longer available.
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Live events and activities (e.g. Rhymetime) will not run until further notice.
Changes in book borrowing
There is limited book browsing available in Sutton libraries from 27 July 2020. Please note customers will need to use the hand sanitiser provided before browsing.
Library books can also be borrowed in a number of convenient ways through our ‘Select & Collect’ service. Your library card number and PIN will be required; new users can register for a library card number and PIN here. To have books available for you to collect from one of reopened libraries, you can:
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Select your book via:
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Call 020 8770 4744
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Receive confirmation saying your books are ready to collect.
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Collect your books in the library within 7 days.
Please be reassured that all library spaces have been deep cleaned during the closure. Books have been quarantined for 72 hours and will be handled with protective equipment (e.g. gloves).
Pre-selected Lucky Dip book packs for preschoolers and young children are available. These are packs of six books for young children to enjoy reading - a perfect accompaniment to the Summer Reading Challenge 2020. To request a lucky dip book pack please email your child's name, age and library card number to sutton.library@sutton.gov.uk
Changes in IT facilities in libraries
IT facilities (e.g. public computers, printers) are available for emergency and essential use only, and need to be booked in advance by sending an email to sutton.library@sutton.gov.uk or calling 0208 770 4744. Visitors will not be permitted to use I.T. equipment without a pre-arranged appointment time. Time slots are strictly 45 minutes only, and once elapsed the user will be required to vacate.
Printing must be processed and paid through the Princh app (Android / Apple). Photocopying requires exact change. This is to mitigate contact by removing the handling of cash.
Public Wi-Fi will be unavailable to use for study or work in the library.
Heritage and Archives
We are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the following heritage sites, which will be open for pre booked visits from Thursday 23 July 2020:
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Whitehall Historic House, Cheam: Thursdays & Saturdays, 10am - 4pm,
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Honeywood Museum, Carshalton: Fridays & Saturdays, 10am - 4pm,
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Little Holland House, Carshalton: remains closed.
Archive Search Room
The reopening of the Archive search room and all archive retrievals remain on hold until further notice, however access to the online catalogue remains available. Requests can also be sent to local.studies@sutton.gov.uk.
Heritage Houses
Sutton Cultural Services are delighted to announce that Whitehall Historic House in Cheam and Honeywood Museum in Carshalton, will be reopening their doors from the 23 July 2020. With measures in place to welcome visitors safely, and new temporary exhibitions and children’s activity packs to delight visitors old and new, the team are thrilled to invite the public back through the doors to enjoy these two unique local heritage attractions.
To work within recommended guidelines, a pre-booking system for free visits to both sites is now in place via Eventbrite. Tickets are available for individuals / groups of up to 6 (recommended single household). Please note, morning slots at both sites (10am - 11am; 10-30am- 11.30am) are reserved for priority telephone bookings (those with access concerns and those without internet access.) See attached for full details of opening dates and times, plus details of what’s on at each house.
| Whitehall Historic House 1 Malden Road Cheam, Sutton SM3 8QD |
From Thursday 23 July 2020 |
| Honeywood Museum Honeywood Walk Carshalton, Sutton SM5 3NX |
From Friday 24 July 2020 Open weekly on Fridays and Saturdays, 10am - 5pm Pre-booking only |
| Bookings for both sites available online. Limited priority telephone bookings are also available via the Cultural Services main telephone number: 0208 770 4740 |
|
Additional updates about Library services
Visitors are requested not to remain in the library for longer than necessary. Study facilities will be unavailable. We understand this is vastly different from what our visitors are used to, but please know this is necessary as the safest way to provide services in our libraries and heritage houses at this time and we will keep this under review.
Feel free to follow our social media channels and/or email newsletter for further updates on the service, and many digital experiences such as Online Rhymetimes, Digital Information Centre, new podcast episodes, etc.
We also encourage individuals who have been keeping a journal of their experiences during the current times, or have thoughts relating to the difference in their lives brought about by the pandemic, to share your written pieces, photos, drawings, videos, audio recordings, etc. with The Locals: Diaries project.
Services will be reviewed regularly and adjusted as necessary in response to Government guidance. Any queries, please feel free to email sutton.library@sutton.gov.uk. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Outdoor gyms
We will be reopening outdoor gyms in our parks from 4 July. Please note that only the Council’s outdoor gyms are reopening at this stage. Indoor gyms in our leisure centres remain closed for now.
There will be special guidance on how to use the equipment safely and ensure social distancing on display in parks.
In line with all other London councils and government guidance, Sutton will not be disinfecting outdoor gym equipment at the end of each day. To keep safe, users should:
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use hand sanitiser before and after using the equipment
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wear gloves wherever possible
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not touch their faces
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wash their hands once they return home.
Outdoor gym equipment should not be used if someone in your household is displaying any symptoms of Coronavirus and children should always keep a safe distance from others.
Please remember to take your rubbish home with you if the park bins are full. Park staff are emptying bins, but with more people using the boroughs open spaces the bins fill up much more quickly.
The public toilets at Cheam Park and Rosehill Park are now open. Toilets are also available at the cafes in Beddington Park, Grove Park, Mellows Park, Oaks Park, Manor Park and Sutton Green.
Children’s playgrounds
We will be reopening children’s playgrounds in our parks from 4 July.
There will be special guidance on how to use the equipment safely and ensure social distancing on display in parks.
In line with all other London councils and government guidance, Sutton will not be disinfecting play equipment at the end of each day. To keep safe, parents should ensure their children:
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use hand sanitiser before and after entering the playground
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do not touch their faces
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wash their hands once they return home.
Play equipment should not be used if someone in your household is displaying any symptoms of Coronavirus and children should always keep a safe distance from others.
Please remember to take your rubbish home with you if the park bins are full. Park staff are emptying bins, but with more people using the boroughs open spaces the bins fill up much more quickly.
The public toilets at Cheam Park and Rosehill Park are now open. Toilets are also available at the cafes in Beddington Park, Grove Park, Mellows Park, Oaks Park, Manor Park and Sutton Green.
Leisure centres
Sutton’s four leisure centres (Cheam, David Weir, Phoenix and Westcroft) will reopen on Saturday 25 July, as COVID-19 (Coronavirus) restrictions continue to be lifted.
The Council has been working closely with our partners at Everyone Active to implement strict measures ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the centres reopening.
Further information about the measures taken and the facilities that will be available can be found on the Everyone Active website and we would ask everyone to familiarise themselves with this detail prior to attending the centre.